Utility rates & providers in Durham County, NC

Representative example: Durham (1,000 kWh + 5,000 gal)

Durham County sits in the Research Triangle and is anchored by the City of Durham, our largest modeled municipality in the county. For Durham, we benchmark residential electric using Duke Energy Progress and the North Carolina Public Staff’s published typical monthly bill at 1,000 kWh—consistent with other Triangle cities in Duke Progress territory. Retail electric service is still address-specific at subdivision edges and in pockets served by other distributors; always confirm the legal name on your bill before comparing rates.

Total estimated monthly utilities

$273.43

Modeled for Durham — your address may use different providers. Estimated total ~$273.43; water ~$35.01/mo at 5,000 gal (when that is the city assumption).

Data freshness: last verified 2026-06-05. County overview narrative last verified 2026-04-12.

Data freshness: 2026-06-05
  • Electric $174.82 (64%)
  • Water $35.01 (13%)
  • Sewer $49.46 (18%)
  • Trash $14.14 (5%)

Utilities here are about 5% higher than the North Carolina city average, driven mainly by electric rates.

  • In North Carolina, heating and cooling often makes electric the largest share of the bill.
  • Trash is provided by private haulers; residents choose their own. Our estimate reflects typical rates for the area—contact haulers for exact pricing.

Potable water and sanitary sewer are usually billed separately from electric. The City of Durham’s Water Management and Customer Billing Services publish combined water and sewer rate schedules (meter service charges, tiered water consumption, and sewer volume components) for qualifying city accounts. In unincorporated Durham County, most homes rely on wells or small systems, while the county operates specialized retail water programs where they exist—most notably the Rougemont Water System described on Durham County Utilities pages—and the county Utilities Division also operates regional wastewater infrastructure including the Triangle Wastewater Treatment Plant and related collection for eligible county connections. Solid waste is jurisdiction-specific: the City of Durham Solid Waste Management provides curbside carts and schedules for many qualifying single-family homes inside the city, while Durham County General Services publishes solid waste programs and fee schedules (including curbside options in unincorporated areas) that can differ from municipal collection rules.

Utility breakdown by service

Line-item style summary for Durham County—figures are from the county overview below, not copied from a single city page. Jurisdiction notes, narrative, and official sources follow in each card.

Electricity

Benchmark

Benchmark — Duke Energy Progress typical bill @ 1,000 kWh (Public Staff) for Durham modeling

Duke Energy Progress is the investor-owned utility most Durham addresses use in public mapping summaries; residential schedules are NCUC-reviewed and summarized for shoppers through the Public Staff’s typical monthly bill at 1,000 kWh. Effective totals still move with riders, weather, and usage.

North Carolina does not offer retail electric choice for Progress residential service—compare tariffs and assistance programs rather than shopping for a competing wires provider.

Verify the distributor on your bill at addresses near municipal boundaries, large apartments, and new construction—ZIP codes can span more than one certified territory.

Official sources

Water

Confirmed

Confirmed — City of Durham retail schedules; limited county retail (e.g., Rougemont); wells common ex-urban

Inside the City of Durham, residential water is billed by the city with a monthly meter/service component and tiered consumption rates published in the Current Water & Sewer Rates materials; irrigation meters and large commercial accounts use different schedules.

Durham County’s Utilities Division operates the Rougemont Water System for a defined unincorporated service area and bills those retail customers through county utility channels—do not assume the same rate table as a Durham city account.

Many unincorporated parcels remain on private wells; those homes should not be modeled with Durham city volumetric tiers without confirming the water supply.

Official sources

Sewer / wastewater

Confirmed

Confirmed — City of Durham retail sewer; county Triangle WWTP & basins for eligible connections

City of Durham customers on public sanitary sewer typically see sewer service and volume charges on the city utility bill alongside water, using schedules published with Durham’s Current Water & Sewer Rates.

Durham County’s Utilities Division operates the Triangle Wastewater Treatment Plant and maintains related collection infrastructure for qualifying county connections; development and basin capacity rules are administered through county utilities/engineering materials rather than city Water Management.

Septic systems and private package plants are outside typical city retail sewer line items.

Official sources

Trash & recycling

Confirmed

Confirmed — City of Durham curbside carts; Durham County solid waste programs & fees

The City of Durham Solid Waste Management provides automated curbside garbage, recycling, yard waste, and bulky programs for many qualifying single-family homes; apartments and many townhome communities are typically served privately—confirm with your property manager when applicable.

Durham County General Services publishes solid waste, recycling, and litter-control programs for county residents, including fee schedules that may apply depending on service type and jurisdiction; unincorporated curbside offerings differ from city cart rules.

Use the city’s collection lookup tools and the county’s solid waste pages to reconcile whether your address is city-serviced, county-serviced, or private-contract.

Official sources

Summaries rely on the North Carolina Public Staff’s Duke Energy Progress typical-bill materials, NCUC/Duke Energy customer references, City of Durham Water Management and Customer Billing publications, Durham County Utilities Division pages (including Rougemont and regional wastewater context), City of Durham Solid Waste materials, and Durham County General Services solid waste publications as of the last verified date. City versus unincorporated boundaries, well versus public water, and county basin capacity rules are parcel-specific—this overview supports research, not a substitute for a metered bill, tax bill detail, or development services determination.

Check Internet pricing & availability in Durham County

Internet service varies widely—many providers, different plans, introductory offers, and bundles make it hard to compare apples to apples. That's why we don't estimate internet on this page like we do for electric, water, sewer, and trash. Use our tool to compare providers for your address or ZIP code.

Total estimated monthly utilities

$273.43

Durham

What changes your bill most?

  • Electric is about 64% of your estimated utilities here.
  • Every 100 kWh changes your total by about $15.90.
  • Water increases by about $4.95 per additional 1,000 gallons.

Assumptions

  • Electric: 1,000 kWh/month
  • Water: 5,000 gallons/month

What these labels mean

  • Confirmed — From this area's rate schedule.
  • Benchmark — From an official typical (e.g. state commission 1,000 kWh); not city-specific.
  • Delivery only — Regulated delivery charges only (e.g. Texas); supply varies by plan.
  • Estimated — From other or incomplete sources; use as a rough guide.
Sources

Full line-item breakdown: Durham utility page. County overview cards above cite additional regional sources.

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Cities in Durham County

Estimated monthly utility totals

Totals use each city's modeled usage and tariffs on file—see the city page for electric, water, sewer, and trash breakdowns.

CityEst. total/mo
Durham (illustrative pattern)$273.43

More in North Carolina

North Carolina utility costsElectric providers in North CarolinaDurham utility page

FAQ

We use base charges and per-unit rates from official provider and municipal sources for each city in Durham County. Electric uses city or provider tariff data; water, sewer, and trash use city or provider rate schedules. Each city page shows assumed usage (kWh, gallons) and source links.
Cities in the same county can have different electric providers, municipal water and sewer systems, and trash contracts. Rates and fee structures vary, so estimated monthly totals differ. Use the comparison table and city links to see details.
Each city page shows a 'last verified' date and links to official sources. Always confirm current rates on the provider's or city's website before making decisions.
They are separate utilities. Duke Energy Progress delivers regulated retail electric service in much of Durham, while the City of Durham bills retail water and sewer for qualifying city accounts. Always match each bill to the provider named in the header.
Not necessarily. Many unincorporated parcels use private wells or other arrangements; a limited county retail system such as Rougemont is the exception rather than the rule. Use Durham County Utilities materials and your closing documents to confirm service type.
Mailing city does not determine service. Qualifying single-family homes inside the City of Durham are typically on the city’s curbside cart program, while unincorporated county addresses may follow Durham County solid waste programs or private subscription. Verify with the city Solid Waste pages and the county General Services solid waste hub for your parcel.

Learn more

For tips on understanding your bill, comparing cities, and how electric and utility rates work by state, see our blog. Compare Durham with another city side-by-side, or see how we calculate estimates.